BY ALLISON FASHEK
afashek@nwitimes.com219.662.5333
CROWN POINT | The city gave a thumbs up Monday to a plan designed to improve pedestrian and traffic flow around the square, as well as give a boost to its retailers.

The Plan Commission voted 5-1 to adopt the plan, which recommends making Court Street one way north of the square, creating larger corner sidewalks to make it easier to cross the street, opening sight lines between parking lots and the square, and enforcing parking time limits.

The plan also recommends putting up new signs announcing city destinations and making Parry Court a pedestrian walkway, which are likely to be the first changes put into action.

Only member Paul Bremer voted against the plan because it supports the further study of the realignment of U.S. 231.

Economic Development Director Frank Mosko said many people assume trucks come through the city to avoid highways, but according to trucking companies their drivers don't go through Crown Point unless they must.

"You're going to see more truck traffic, but not because of the realignment of U.S. 231," Mosko said. "(It's) because of the growth cycle. It's inevitable."

Many commission members also doubted that reverse-angle parking around the square, another recommendation, would work.

Mosko said research has shown it works and makes bike traffic safer. But the city plans to test it on the south side of the square for a six-month period before making a permanent change.

The plan is the result of work by a committee of mostly downtown business and property owners, who identified traffic issues, and a study by consultants LSL Planning Inc., KKG and First Group, whom the city paid $60,000.

Mosko said he knows at least one downtown business owner expanding because of the plan.

"You're going to see the benefits of these changes just in increased retail activity," he said.

I think as far as traffic on the square, there has been an increase due to the fact that more people drive through CP to get everywhere else avoiding 41. Anyone from south of here has to at some point drive around the courthouse to get to US 30 or 231. That doesn't mean that they stop and shop. On a Sunday, the square looks like a ghost town. The only tricky area when crossing the street on the square is over near the theater and Papa's Deli...one way to catch your lunch for real.